Anastasia’s Healing Society

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TRUE HEALING STORY – at ANASTASIA PAY IT FORWARD COMMUNITY

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A- A few years ago I visited our 3 new properties on the Caribbean coast and beaches, however upon returning from our other Costa Rica properties near Panama. I was awakened to the excitement of inviting the local Indigenous Shaman of Costa Rica’s Bro Bri Tribe to share his amazing healing story that started 14 years ago with an the person which would eventually become our newest Anastasia partner… I was awakened with thoughts to honor and welcome our local tribesmen as friends and family to break bread – honor and restore the ancient’s healing skills and ceremonies as family for humanity and universe at Anastasia’s Pay It Forward Communities.

B- Short version as follows:

1) “Rock” (a pilot) came to Costa Rica 14 years ago to die of terminal cancer in the exact spot, which unknowing to him would eventually became Anastasia Pay It Forward – Profit Sharing – Health and Healing – Organic Farm Communities

2) Long story short, “Rock” had been following my work for years and became more and more interested in our community not knowing that our property is the exact same place where he was reborn, visited by the local Shaman, and healed of terminal cancer 14 years ago

3) 14 years later Rock meets Anastasia’s team, visits our properties and sees with his own eyes… the exact house where he laid down to die, saw “THE LIGHT” that changed his LIFE, AND THE SHAMAN THAT BROUGHT HIM APPROXIMATELY 20 POUNDS SPECIAL MEDICINAL HERBS – BARK and SEEDS and PRECISE INSTRUCTIONS THAT HEALED HIS TERMINAL CANCER

4) Rock is alive n well and today 14 years later Anastasia welcomes Rock as family to partner in sharing this healing gift with you at the precise spot in Anastasia’s Communities where this miracle transpired

5) Come and share in our daily experiences and share in your own miracles with others

6) I’ll post pictures and videos on our web sites as soon as I receive them from photographers

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The co-author of The pH Miracle, Dr. Robert Young in an extended 42 minute interview, talks about your bodies natural electrical make up; PH balance, alkaline foods to help balance the body against typical diets…

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By Steve Gillman
Excerpt from A Book of Secrets
You Want More Brainpower – Not Higher IQ Scores!

Okay, maybe you want higher IQ scores too. The American Heritage Dictionary defines Intelligence Quotient as “The ratio of tested mental age to chronological age, usually expressed as a quotient multiplied by 100.”

Basically, it’s a test of intelligence, with 100 as the average score. There are some problems with IQ tests however.

A recent IQ test asked which of four fruits was different. It was the one with more than one seed; but what if you were not familiar with these fruits? Obviously this test is culturally biased. You are assumed to have certain knowledge, yet you are being tested for intelligence, not knowledge.

Now look at these letters: “ANLDEGN.” Rearrange them and you’ll have the name of a(n): Ocean, Country, State, City or Animal. This is from an IQ test I took. Hmm… There are very few oceans, so I could eliminate those – but wait a second! That’s a test taking technique. An intelligence test shouldn’t be testing your test-taking ability. I’m bound to score higher than a person of equal intelligence who hasn’t learned simple techniques for scoring higher on multiple – choice tests.

Real Life Results Versus Scores

Now let me ask you a question. What was Henry Fords IQ? Who cares! The man was one of the most innovative people of the last century, and he did what he did by surrounding himself with intelligent people.

That practice alone has to be worth more than 20 IQ points in terms of real life results.

Real life results are what you want, right? So if you want to be more creative, learn to use creative problem solving techniques. If you want to concentrate better, there are techniques for that. Learn to speed-read and you’ll have double the knowledge in the same time. After you paint your first Mona Lisa, build your first skyscraper or make your first million, what will your IQ score be? Who cares!?

Okay, an imperfect test is better than no test at all, and it is entertaining. I just took an IQ test, and although I don’t think my IQ is really the 138 it showed, it was fun. If you really want to, you can try a free IQ test on my website http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com. Of course you’ll score higher on a good day than a bad day, so try these tips to make it a good IQ test day:

70 Ways to Better Brainpower –
(In no particular order.)

1. Breath deep. More air in means more oxygen in the blood and therefore in the brain. Breath through your nose and you’ll notice that you use your diaphragm more, drawing air deeper into your lungs. Several deep breaths can also help to relax you, which is conducive to clearer thinking.

2. Meditate. A simple meditation you can do right now is just closing your eyes and paying attention to your breath. Tensing up your muscles and then relaxing them to start may help. When your mind wanders, just bring your attention back to your breath. Five or ten minutes of this will usually relax you, clear your mind, and leave you more ready for any mental task.

3. Sit up straight. Posture affects your thinking process. Prove it to yourself by doing math in your head while slouching, looking at the floor and letting your mouth hang open. Then do the mental math while sitting up straight, keeping your mouth closed and looking forward or slightly upwards. You’ll notice that it’s easier to think with the latter posture.4. Phosphotidyl Serine (PS). This supplement has been shown in clinical studies to increase lucidity and rate of learning. It activates cell-to-cell communication, helps regulate cell growth, improves the functioning of the special receptors found on cells, and prepares cells for activity. In other words, it can help your brain power. It’s also thought to reverse memory decline. Phosphatidylserine has no known adverse side effects.

5.Vinpocetine. This extract, derived from an alkaloid found in the Periwinkle plant, is used as a cerebral vasodilator. It increases blood flow to the brain, which improves its oxygenation and thereby increases mental alertness and acuity. Research suggests it may also be the most powerful memory enhancer available to date.

6. Gingko Biloba. The leaves of this tree have been proven to increase blood flow to the brain. The trees are often planted in parks. My friends and I used to eat a few leaves when we wanted a brain boost. It is also inexpensive, if you buy the capsules or tea at any health food store.

7. Saint John’s Wort. This is a common weed that may be growing in your yard. Although it’s brain enhancing qualities are less documented (studies do show it’s usefulness for treating long-term depression), many people swear by it’s temporary mood-elevating effect, and our brains tend to function better when we are happy. It is inexpensive, but I used to just collect it in the yard and make tea of it. (Hyperacum Perforatum, if you want to look it up by it’s botanical name.)
8. Good thinking habits. Just use a problem solving technique for several weeks and it will become a habit. Redesign everything you see for a while, and that will become a habit. You can develop many good thinking habits with some effort, and then be more resourceful effortlessly from that point on. Use the power of habit.

9. Use dead time. This is time that is otherwise wasted or just under-utilized. Driving time, time spent in waiting rooms, or even time spent raking your yard can be included in this. With a tape player and a trip to a public library, you can start to use this time to listen to books-on-tape. You may spend 200 hours a year in your car. What could you learn in that time?
10. Learn a language. Learning a new language has been shown to halt the age-related decline in brain function. It also introduces your mind to new concepts and new ways of looking at things (in English we are afraid, whereas in Spanish we have fear). It is one of the best brain exercises.
11. Rosemary. This common herb may have an effect on the brain when the scent is inhaled. We are waiting for the research, but some people swear that just sniffing rosemary wakes up their brain. It seems safe, so if you have rosemary in your spice rack, give it a try.

12. Mindfulness exercises. Concentration and clear thinking are more or less automatic once you remove distractions. Learn to stop and watch your busy mind. As you notice things that are subtly bothering you, deal with them. This might mean making a phone call you need to make, or putting things on a list so you can forget them for now. With practice, this becomes easier, and your thinking becomes more powerful.

13. Write. Writing is good for your mind in a number of ways. It is a way to tell your memory what is important, so you’ll recall things more easily in the future. It is a way to clarify your thinking. It is a way to exercise your creativity and analytical ability. Diaries, idea-journals, poetry, note-taking and story-writing are all ways to use writing to boost your brain power.
14. Listen to Mozart. In a study at the University of California, researchers found that children who studied piano and sang daily in chorus, were much better at solving puzzles, and when tested, scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the non-musical group. In another study, 36 students were given three spatial reasoning tests on a standard IQ test. Just before the first test, they listened to Mozart’s sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 for ten minutes. Before the second test, they listened to a relaxation tape. Before the third, they sat in silence. The average scores for all 36 students: 1st test: 119. 2nd test: 111. 3rd test: 110. A nine-point boost from Mozart!

15. Develop your intuition. Intuition can be an important part of brainpower. Einstein and others have relied heavily on their intuitive hunches. See Chapter 25for tips on how to develop your intuition.

16. Avoid foods that cause subtle allergies. These can include wheat, corn, peanuts and dairy products. Watch yourself to see if you have a problem with any of these. They cause digestive problems and brain fog in some people.
17. Sleep better. As long as you get a certain amount of sleep – probably a minimum of five hours – the quality seems to be more important than the quantity. Also, short naps in the afternoon seem to work well to recharge the brain for some people.

18. Caffeine. The research shows higher test scores for students who drink coffee before major exams. My chess game gets better. In other studies, it has been shown that too much caffeine leads to poorer quality decisions. Caffeine affects individuals differently, and has some nasty long-term side effects for some of us, but short-term – it works!

19. Avoid sugar. Any simple carbohydrates can give you “brain fog.” Sometimes called the “sugar blues” as well, this sluggish feeling makes it hard to think clearly. It results from the insulin rushing into the bloodstream to counteract the sugar rush. Avoid pasta, sugars, white bread and potato chips before any important mental tasks.

20. Hypnosis audios. The power of suggestion is real, and one way to use it is with hypnosis tapes, CD’s or downloads. This type of brain “programing” has more evidence for it than subliminals.

21. Speed reading. Contrary to what many believe, your comprehension of material often goes up when you learn to speed-read. You get to learn a lot more in less time, and it is definitely a good brain exercise.

22. Exercise. Long term exercise can boost brainpower, which isn’t surprising. Anything that affects physical health in a positive way probably helps the brain too. Recent research, though, shows that cognitive function is improved immediately after just ten minutes of aerobic exercise. If you need a brain recharge, you might want to walk up and down the stairs a few times.

23. Imaginary friends. Talking to and getting advice from characters in your mind can be a great way to access the information in your subconscious mind. Imagine a conversation with a person who has a lot of knowledge in the area you want advice in.

25. Learn more efficiently. When you decide to learn something, take notes from the start. Leave each “learning session” with a question or two in mind, to create anticipation and curiosity. Take short breaks, so there will be more beginnings and endings to your studies (Things learned at the beginning or ending of a class or session are remembered better).
26. Use techniques for clear thinking. Cluttered rooms and offices can contribute to cluttered thinking. Organize a space for mental work. Sigh, stretch, and take a deep breath before you start on a tough mental job. Plan some distraction-free time for brainstorming.
27. Brain wave entrainment. The newest brain wave entrainment products are powerful tools for altering your brain function. Some will almost immediately relax you, while others will put your brain waves in a pattern that is most conducive to analytical thinking.

28. Creatine. This is a compound found in meat, used by athletes to help build muscle. Now the evidence is here to show that it helps your brain as well. Proceedings B , a journal published by the Royal Society reports that the research showed improvement in working memory and general intelligence resulting from creatine supplementation. The dose used in the study was 5 grams per day. This is about the level used to boost sports performance, and is as much as you’d normally get in four pounds of meat, according to lead researcher Dr. Caroline Rae.
29. Talk. Talking is only good for the brain if you are actually exercising it, of course. Try explaining something that you don’t understand very well to a friend, though, and you’ll notice that the process of explaining will help you clarify your understanding.
30. Do something you enjoy. This is a way to both lower stress and rev up your brain. The key is to do something active. Watching TV doesn’t count. Whether it is playing Scrabble or building birdhouses, when you are actively engaged in an activity that you enjoy, you worry less about things and you start to think better.
31. Adjust your beliefs. Believe you are smarter, and you’ll become smarter. For this, affirmations may work, but even better is evidence. Make a note of your successes. Tell yourself, “Hey, that was really creative,” when you do something creative. When you have a good idea, make a note of it. Gather the evidence for your own intelligence and you’ll start to experience more of it.
32. Brain exercises. Do math in your mind while driving. Think of a new use for everything you see. Regular use of the brain has been shown to generate new neuronal growth, and even halt the decline of mental function that often comes with age.
33. Learn new things. This is another way to exercise the brain. It can also be done with little time investment if you use books-on-tapes while driving.
34. Walk. Exercise has been shown to benefit the brain, and walking is one of the best exercises for many. It is low impact, and the rhythmic nature of it seems to put you in a state that is very conducive to clear thinking. In fact, carry a tape recorder with you to take notes, and a twenty minute walk can be a great way to solve problems.

35. Model others. Find others that are creative, intelligent, or very productive. Do what they do, and think what they think. This is a key principle of neuro-linguistic programming. Be careful about taking their advice, though. Successful people often don’t really understand why they are successful. Do what they do, not what they say.

36. Eat fish. Eating fish actually speeds up brain waves, and improves concentration. Researchers have also found an almost perfect correlation between intake of fish and lowered levels of depression in the various countries of the world. The U.S. has 24 times the incidence of depression as Japan, for example, where fish intake is much higher.
37. Avoid unnecessary arguments. When you defend a position too vigorously, especially when it is just to “win” the argument, you invest our ego into it. This is not conducive to the easy acceptance and use of new information. In other words, you put your mind in a rut, and you dig it deeper with each argument. Debate can be a valuable thing, but when the ego takes over, the mind closes a little. This is not a recipe for better thinking.

38. Laugh. The release of endorphins caused by laughter lowers stress levels, which is good for long term brain health. Laughter also tends to leave you more open to new ideas and thoughts.

39. Play. Stimulating the brain causes measurable changes in the structure of the brain. New connections are made and new brain cells are grown. Intellectual play, as well as any playing that involves hand-eye coordination stimulates the brain.

40. Do puzzles. Crossword puzzles, lateral thinking puzzles, and even good riddles are a great way to get brain exercise. You can work on them while waiting for a dentist appointment, or on the bus, if you are short on time.

41. Sing. When you are alone in your car, try singing about something you are working on. This taps into and exercises your right brain. Have you ever noticed how it is easier to rhyme when you sing than when you just speak or write? This is because the right brain is better at pattern recognition. By doing this brain exercise regularly you can train yourself to tap into the power of the right brain. This will make you a more effective problem-solver. If you doubt the distinction between the hemispheres of the brain, look at how stutterers can stop stuttering as soon as they start singing. Try it.

42. Nuts. University students in Brazil and other South American countries often eat several Brazil nuts before an exam, believing they are good for their mental power. The evidence is starting to confirm this. Other nuts that have minerals and amino acids that are beneficial to the brain include almonds and walnuts.

43. Olive oil. High in mono-unsaturated fat, olive oil has been shown to improve memory. A cheaper alternative is canola oil, but this hasn’t been studied much yet.
44. Vitamin supplements. In studies, children scored higher on tests when on a regimen of daily vitamin supplements. “Experts” will tell you that if you eat a balanced diet, you don’t need supplements, which, given the culture here, is really just a sales pitch for vitamins, isn’t it? Who eats a perfectly balanced diet?

45. Fiber. It isn’t just what goes in, but what comes out that is important to brain function. Toxic build-up in the body and brain can cause “brain fog.” People often report clearer thinking as one of the benefits of curing their constipation.

46. Self awareness. This may not seem important to brain power, but it is. When you know yourself better, you can avoid the usual effects of ego and emotion in your seemingly “rational” thinking. Or you can at least take it into account. Watch yourself, especially as you explain things or argue.
47. Motivate yourself. Motivation is as important to mental tasks as it is to any other. Learn a few simple techniques for self motivation. You can start with those in Chapter 8.
48. Avoid too much stress. Neuropsychiastrist Richard Restak, M.D., form the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services, sums up the research thus: “Stress causes brain damage.” Long term stress has repeated been shown to hurt the brain, not to mention the rest of the body. Learn a few stress reduction techniques if you get stressed out often.

49. Get educated. Scientists have known for a while that the less educated get alzheimer’s more frequently. Education in any area seems to make the brain stronger.

50. Avoid too much fat. In laboratory studies, animals consistently learn slower when they are on a diet high in fat. Type of fat may make a difference, so you may want to stick to using olive oil and other non-saturated fats. Saturated fats have been shown to actually stunt the growth of brain cells.

51. Eat less. Overeating has the immediate effect of redirecting more blood to the digestive process, leaving less for the brain. Long term, it can cause arterial obstructions that reduce blood flow to the brain permanently. In at least one study, rats on a restricted-calorie diet had more brainpower.

52. Avoid suspect foods. There is evidence that the following foods can be bad for your brain: Artificial food colorings, artificial sweeteners, colas, corn syrup, frostings, high-sugar drinks, hydrogenated fats, sugars, white bread, and any white-flour products.
53. Eat breakfast. When kids who didn’t eat breakfast started to eat it, researchers found that their math scores went up a whole grade on average.

54. Avoid diabetes. The development of diabetes coincides with a dropping of IQ scores. In other words, if you want to maintain your brain power, follow your doctors dietary recommendations for preventing or treating diabetes.
55. Eat foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect all your cells, including brain cells. Some of the foods highest in antioxidants include: prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, garlic, kale, cranberries, strawberries, spinach, and raspberries. In one test, rats had age-related mental decline reversed by eating the equivalent of a 1/2 cup of blueberries per day.
56. Drink wine. In moderation, red wine can be good for the brain, it seems. It is rich in antioxidants, which protect brain cells. One glass per day for women and two for men is usually considered a safe and moderate amount.

57. Use alcohol in moderation. In a study at the University of Indiana School of Medicine, elderly light drinkers (fewer than 4 drinks per week) scored higher on tests of thinking abilities than non-drinkers. Those who drank 10 or more drinks per week scored lower. It is known that alcohol can kill brain cells, so moderation seems to be the key.

60. Vitamin E. Jean Carper, in researching her book, “Your Miracle Brain,” found that many brain researchers are taking 400 I.U.s of vitamin E daily. It is an antioxidant, and reduces the clogging of blood vessels, including those going in the brain.

61. Vitamin C. Taken in the form of orange juice in a study at the Texas Women’s University, vitamin C increased the IQ scores of children.
62. Selenium. 100 micrograms of selenium has been shown to be a mood-elevator. Your brain almost certainly functions better when you are in a better mood. Foods rich in selenium include Brazil nuts and garlic.

64. Inositol. This is a safe and natural substance that is often grouped with the B-vitamins. It reduces stress and promotes clear thinking. It contributes to energy production, and so can “wake you up.” Animal studies show a measurable increase in physical activity for up to five hours after taking it.
65. Huperzine A. This is a compound extracted from the Chinese club moss. Researchers both in Israel and the U.S. have used it to treat alzheimer’s. It improves memory and learning an seems to be very safe.

66. Ask questions. This is a great way to keep your brain in shape. Just get in the habit of asking questions often, even if it is only in your own mind. Why are taller buildings better? what is the purpose of curbs? Ask anything that comes to mind, and ponder the possible answers.
67. Sniff basil. This another of the herbs that may be good for your brain. No studies yet, but many report a brain boost from smelling basil.
68. Temperature. Many people have noted that they think better at certain temperatures. In general, it seems that being slightly cool, but not uncomfortable, is most conducive to good thinking. Try experimenting on yourself to see what temperature works best for you.

69. Use systems. From the time I was ten years old, 12 x 49 was always (12 x 50) – 12. It’s easier to figure in your head this way (588, by the way). I didn’t get any credit for my personal algorithms then, but they are selling these shortcuts on late-night TV now, because they work. You can find your own easier ways to do mental math or other mental tasks, or read a good book on them.
70. Make a brainpower plan. It takes about twenty to thirty days of repetition to establish new habits, many psychologists will tell you. This means that when you create your plan for better brainpower, be sure you plan to use that new problem solving technique, or eat those new brain foods for at least three weeks. You can use many of the brain boosters here and get immediate results, but it is creating new habits that will give you the most brainpower.

Here is an immensely awesome idea for those seeking their own diabetes cure: Keep Blood Sugar Levels Normal Long Enough for your Pancreas to Heal. This was embedded in a discussion in the raw paleo diet forum, where very experienced health afficionados who have cured themselves and cured others. This nugget of diabetes cure comes from “Dorothy.”

… I have experience helping other with diabetes. I learned because when my mother who had diabetes for close to 40 years needed to come live with me I told her that I would take total care of her as long as she was willing to eat what I give her and not complain – because I couldn’t take care of an obese, blind person with no legs – because that’s where things were heading. Within 3 months (and we did things slowly on purpose) she was no longer on meds and her blood sugars stayed stable from then on. The same strategy has worked for others on insulin too (learning what I did for Mom). You have type one which is more difficult – but not impossible. You must take into consideration not only the sugar aspects but the auto-immune aspects.

I’m going to say something that might be really unpopular but I’m going to say it anyway for your sake. A diabetic eating something that causes their blood sugars to stay maintained in the 500′s is not suffering from a detox – but was doing themself real harm and is dealing with the repercussions. That level of BS causes massive strain and it might take you a good long while to get over it. 500 is an outrageously high bs level. Remember how I told you that honey was the one thing that even quite a decade after solid blood sugars could make my mother’s blood sugars go through the roof and cause her real harm – more than processed sugar? She could eat all the fruit she wanted – but honey – very dangerous for her. Please, stop eating honey!!!

Detoxes are shorter lived and milder. The big problem that I have seen with people trying new diets over the 3 decades I’ve been into this stuff is that just about anything can be discounted as a “detox”. Don’t fall into that trap. A sniffly nose, some zits, smelly armpits or bad breath, a tiny bit more tired — for a couple of days — could be a detox — but months of deteriorating vitality when tackling such a disease as type 1 diabetes to be dismissed as a detox could be really dangerous. Take what is happening to you seriously!

Just because someone wrote a book doesn’t mean they have all the answers or that if your body reacts badly you should continue to believe them in spite of it. With all the conflicting gurus you have to follow what your body tells you is having a good effect or not – not the guru hundreds of miles away that has never met you. You have to follow your own body, your own knowing and your own intuition! You know that it wasn’t a detox.

The trick to healing diabetes is to keep your blood sugars stable long enough for your pancreas to get enough of a rest to heal. Whether it takes insulin, meds or diet – you MUST get your blood sugars back in line and keep them there long enough to let your entire body heal up from the honey and prolonged high sugars.

You do NOT have to eat fermented berries to heal yourself if they do not appeal to you. Actually, at this point, I wouldn’t take such chances if I were you. You need to get back to the basics.

What are the basics with diabetes? Stability of blood sugar levels! Do that, no matter what it takes. In terms of diet it for those I helped it took equal parts meat/protein, fat and vegetable matter – slow releasing sugar into the system with NO spikes. This will give you the carbohydrates to keep your brain functioning without putting extra stress on your system to convert the protein or fats, the fat to give long stabilization of the blood sugars and the proteins to rebuild yourself and also helps to maintain blood sugars. If you do this raw – you will take more stress off your pancreas and liver still. No fruit. No honey. Too sweet — Too much sugar! Period. Once you heal you might be able to incorporate non-sweet fruit again – but remember – you are type 1. Getting your blood sugars stable is step one. Healing your immune system is step two. You can’t heal until your blood sugars are stable.

If I were in your shoes I would not eat honey or fruit. I would eat equal parts meat/organs and fat and vegetables and I would not juice because the sugars go in too fast that way. If I felt worse from anything – I would change it… including what I am telling you here! If eating a third part of say fat doesn’t make you feel good – change it. Trust yourself.

When healing diabetes you should feel better and better and better over time. Never worse. Don’t believe the detox excuses – it’s just way too dangerous for you. You can’t take such chances when you have such a dangerous disease. If your blood sugars went a little bit higher you could have ended up in a coma.

Type-2 diabetes is no joke, but luckily for us, a vegetable-based high-nutrient is a great way to prevent and fight it! Dr. Fuhrman points this out:

When you eat a diet consisting predominantly of nature’s perfect foods—green vegetables, beans, eggplant, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, garlic, raw nuts and seeds, and limited amounts of fresh fruit, it becomes relatively easy to eat as much as you want and still lose your excess weight. In my experience, those who follow my nutritional recommendations find that their diabetes disappears astonishingly fast, even before most of their excess weight melts away.

The dietary habits of over 64,000 women were assessed and correlated with the development of type-2 diabetes over about five years, and a high intake of all legumes was associated with a 38 per cent reduction in risk of developing the disease, report researchers in this month’s American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.

In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 bn, with $92 bn being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.

According to background information in the study, it has been suggested previously that a high intake of these foods can have benefits against the development of type-2 diabetes, although data is limited for this link.

Sweet! This is reason to celebrate. Let’s party over beans until we explode—pun intended—get a load of this great bean information from Dr. Fuhrman. Here:

Your goal should be to eat an entire cup (or more) of beans daily. Beans are a powerhouse of superior nutrition. They reduce cholesterol and blood sugar. They have a high nutrient-per-calorie profile and help prevent food cravings. They are digested slowly, which has a stabilizing effect on your blood sugar and a resultant high satiety index. Eggplant and beans, mushrooms and beans, greens and beans are all high-nutrient, high-fiber, low-calorie main dishes. Throw a cup of beans on your salad for lunch. Eat bean soup. Scientific studies show a linear relationship between soup consumption and successful weight-loss.1 As weight-loss strategy, eating soup helps by slowing your rate of intake and reducing your appetite by filling your stomach.

For info on the benefits of beans, get a load of these previous posts:

Disease Prevention

Diabetes and Blood Sugar

Did you know certain food helps to keep your blood sugar and risk of diabetes in check? In fact, consuming peanuts and/or peanut butter on a daily basis cuts your risk of diabetes by a quarter (Jiang, 2002). Just a one-ounce serving of peanuts or one tablespoon of peanut butter five or more times per week was shown to offer this benefit in a major study that looked at over 80,000 women called the Nurses’ Health Study (Jiang, 2002).

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load
What is more is that on a 100-point scale, peanuts have a low glycemic index (GI) of 14 and a glycemic load (GL) of 1 (Foster-Powell, 2002). Glycemic load factors in the amount of carbohydrate in a standard serving and research shows that foods with a low GI and GL may help keep blood sugar and insulin levels in optimal ranges.

Additional research has shown that when peanuts or peanut butter are added to a high glycemic load meal, such as with a bagel and a glass of juice, they actually keep your blood sugar stabilized so that it does not rise too high too quickly (Johnston, 2005).

Magnesium has also been linked to diabetes. In one study, over 125,000 women and men from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Harvard Physicians’ Health Study were followed to evaluate magnesium intake (Lopez-Ridaura, 2004). The findings suggested that low magnesium intake is linked with an increased risk of diabetes. In the authors’ conclusion, they suggest, “this study supports the dietary recommendation to increase consumption of major food sources of magnesium, such as whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.”

Low magnesium intake was also linked to high type 2 diabetes incidence in The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (Kao, 1999) as well as in an analysis of seven other related studies (Larrson, 2007). It was shown in a study by researchers from the University of Giessen in Germany that “oral magnesium supplementation significantly improved fasting plasma glucose and some insulin sensitivity indices” (Mooren, 2011). This study showed to reduce diabetes risk by 15% in the subjects involved who were all overweight, insulin resistant, and non-diabetic. The success of this study suggests that administration of a magnesium supplement may act as a preventative measure for individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome.

Magnesium also plays a role in metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and insulin resistance in people of all ages. Studies show an association between magnesium deficiency and insulin resistance in children (Huerta, 2005) as well as inflammation and metabolic syndrome in middle age and older adults (Song, 2005).

Low blood levels may increase the risk of these conditions, but by consuming peanuts, you can boost your magnesium and improve intake of other nutrients as well. A study at Purdue University that fed peanuts on a daily basis for three weeks showed that not only was intake of magnesium increased in those fed peanuts, but blood magnesium also improved to above recommended levels (Alpher, 2003)

Aloe vera good for diabetics, cardiac patients

TNN Feb 25, 2011, 10.07pm IST

VARANASI: The aloe vera (an ornamental plant) can be used for lowering blood glucose and blood lipid level in diabetic and cardiac patients, says a study report prepared by the scientists of Banaras Hindu University(BHU).

The plant is already extensively used in toiletry and cosmetic industry.

It may be mentioned here that a team of BHU scientists including Neeraj Kumar, head, department of rasa shashtra; R Tripathi and B Mishra of department of pharmaceutics, IT-BHU, has come up with a report that sheds light on the potential of aloe vera in diabetic treatment, besides lowering blood lipid levels to bolster cardiac activities.

“The oral administration of aloe vera can be effective in reducing blood glucose in diabetic patients and also in lowering blood lipid levels in hyperlipidaemia patients,” said Neeraj Kumar while talking to TOI on Friday.

The utility of aloe vera’s hypogycemic activity has been proved in both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats.

“Histological examinations have also shown that aloe vera gel reduces the average size of adipocytes and lowers triglyceride levels in liver and plasma,” he added.

Referring to earlier studies that suggest that oral administration of 500 mg per kg weight, twice daily, aloe vera gel significantly reduces the blood glucose level in alloxanized mice, Kumar said that in another study, patients with hyperlipidaemia (higher blood lipid levels), total serum cholesterol levels, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were found to be decreased up to 15%, 30% and 18% respectively after 12 weeks of treatment with aloe vera gel.

As per reports of the rasa shastra department, the aloe vera plant which can grow in extremely dry (arid) conditions and is widely found in Africa and India is widely used in herbal medicines.

While the anti-inflammatory and healing ability of aloe vera has been studied extensively, its other versatile pharmacological activities like hypoglycemic and gastroprotective properties have attracted more attention recently.

Aloe Vera:

It is an ornamental plant known as ghratakumari in Sanskrit and gheekvar in Hindi. It grows in extremely dry (arid) climate and is widely distributed in Africa, India an other arid areas. The plant forms symbiotic relationship with Arbuscular mycoorhiza which helps this plant to access nutrients from the soil. The gel of aloe vera has pharmacological properties like wound healing, frost-bite healing, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, hypoglycemic and gastroprotective abilities.

It supports digestive system to absorb the nutrients and eliminates all harmful toxins from the body. Aloe vera juice is consumed to get relief from various digestive problems including heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. Some other uses of aloe vera include treatment of skin allergies, acne, fungal infection etc.

Noni (Morinda Citrifolia) and Diabetes
Does it have benefits or is it a scam?

Noni juice (Morinda Citrifolia) and diabetes is this worth looking into to help diabetes patients. I have seen and heard the controversy all over the internet on this stuff being a scam and debated on mentioning it on this website. I think it deserves a mention only because it’s so misunderstood.

First of all, if you had a tree nearby you wouldn’t even think of eating the fruit or drinking the juice, in fact you would probably run the other direction. Some of you may know what I’m talking about, but for those of you who don’t let me explain. When this fruit ripens and hits the ground it stinks terribly like something died, it’s horrible. The fresh juice isn’t any better it’s just as disgusting. This is why no one wanted to market this stuff for many years. It was very difficult to figure out how to make it palatable to the Western world.

When someone did figure out how to make it taste half way decent and market this juice it was given to 5,575 people with diabetes who were allowed to drink two ounces three times a day. After about three to four weeks they were asked how there diabetes was doing. Many people within that group, in fact 82% of them reported their diabetes had improved.

The information tells me this juice may not work for everyone, because nothing works for everyone 100% of the time. However, I would be very interested in finding out what the 82% did and how they drank the noni to get their results. I would want to try it for at least two months to see if I was part of the 82% or the 18%, hoping I would get some benefit from it like the 82% did.

Scientific studies on this unique fruit have shown that it has a property in it called xeronine which seems to help clear up the resistance action to insulin. It also helps to combine with the inactive abnormal insulin molecules to modify them to make them active again.

This may not clear up the debate about noni juice but I hope it gives you a little more education on the subject. So should a diabetes patient drink this juice? It looks as if there is possibly an 80% chance that you should at least give it a try for a couple of months.